The Valley Theatre - Scarborough

Storming success

2006-08-26T14:33:00.000+01:00

The Valley Theatre's jaunt at sea on the Ghost Ship (aka the Regal Lady) has been a runaway success. We've put some photos of the cast on the website. If you want to see what all the fuss is about then you've only got two more chances - Tuesday 29th August and Thursday 31st.
Meanwhile, back on dry land, the Valley Theatre's next production is set for 7th and 8th September and features 2 new plays (well one new play and one old play that gets its first outing) from the pen of Graham Rhodes: The Home Front - Two young women take a break from the Second World War in Scarborough, and Greek Island - A famous artist is interviewed at his home for the New York Times and more is revealed than he ever knew!

Fishy tails at sea

2006-07-04T09:05:00.000+01:00

We have final details of the Valley Theatre's summer escapades. We will be on the Regal Lady (not the Coronia as posted earlier) every Tuesday and Thursday throughout the summer. For all you landlubbers out there, we will be back on dry land at the beginning of September.

Aaah-Haaar me hearties!

2006-06-09T11:47:00.000+01:00

The Valley Theatre Company is about to take to the high seas on the Coronia. Throughout the summer we will be performing ghostly happenings every week. More news soon...

Valley Theatre Playwriting competition

2006-06-06T14:56:00.000+01:00

The valley theatre has just announced its inaugural playwriting competition. Follow this link for Details on how to enter the playwriting competition

New program is released

2006-04-21T16:26:00.000+01:00

You can see our latest program here. Please note the dates carefully as we have departed from our usual fortnightly performance schedule.
Susan Saves the Day features two sets of sisters. Anything could happen...

Valley Theatre in the news

2006-03-29T14:42:00.000+01:00

Here is a article featuring the last performance of the valley theatre. They seemed to like it (no mention of facial hair though). If you haven't seen it yet, there is one more chance to see Dancing on a Table in Montmartre, together with a new play from our friends over in West Yorkshire. Keep checking here and on the Valley Theatre Website for details.

Chris Fairchild leaves the Valley

2006-03-29T14:38:00.000+01:00

I am very sad to report that Chris and Ruth Farichild have decide to leave the Valley Theatre after many years - since the old Crossfade days up at the Indigo Alley in fact. They will be sadly missed, both for the acting and for all the sterling work they put in behind the scenes over the years.

We have a winner!!!

2006-03-29T14:33:00.000+01:00

We have yet another winner at Saltburn Drama festival. Karen Tite won best actress for her role in Ticket to Graceland. See! I told you so! See!

Another good night out

2006-03-10T09:25:00.000Z

The latest performance at the Valley Theatre took place last night and was very well received. Tony and Chris Parrinder's rapport as the two aging impressionist artists in "Dancing on a Table in Montmatre" drew lots of favorable comments. Humour was provided by the various facial hair configurations sported by the cast (beard without moustache, moustache without beard, goatee beard, Bingo!!!).

Denizens of the far North East coast (you lucky people) will have the chance to see the Valley Theatre in all its glory at Saltburn Drama Festival on Thursday 16th March. It's a brilliant event at a cracking little theatre and Karen's performance in Ticket to Graceland is worth the entry fee alone. Last year Tony and Chris both won awards so we have a lot to live up to...

Back in Scarborough the last performance of the current run is on Thursday 23rd March, after which it will be time for the younger memebers of the Valley Theatre Company to take centre stage...

New Cast Member's page

2006-02-13T13:38:00.000Z

Karen Tite has passed her most intimate details to me which I have faithfully transcribed onto the web site for everyone to see...

New programme announced

2006-02-13T13:36:00.000Z

The new programme (or program for our American readers) has been announced. It can be seen here

Panto Update

2006-02-10T12:44:00.000Z

The last performance of the Panto was a roaring success. It was a sell-out 15mins before the performance! The audience were up for a good time which always makes the actors raise their game and there were a lot of big laughs throughout the evening - sometimes even for the funny bits!
Unfortunately your editor welshed on his promise and forgot his camera - much to the relief of some members of the cast who seem to take exception to the editorial style.
The next performance is on 23rd February and includes one new play - Dancing on a Table in Montmartre and a revival of an old faithful - The survivor. See you there...

Final Panto tomorrow

2006-01-25T12:37:00.000Z

Well here it is at last, the end of the Panto season. With been dogged by misfortune this year, with one of the main cast suffering a bereavement just before christmas and another being too ill to perform just after. Apologies to all those who had tickets for (or just wanted to turn up to) the performances we had to cancel.
Anyway, we're back in the Undercroft just around the corner from the main hall for this one. I promise I'll get some pictures so that all of you not fortunate enough to be able to see our artistry in the flesh can get just a taste of what the Valley Theatre Pantomime is like.

More halloweeniness..

2005-12-27T12:10:00.000Z

After the exertions of a hard evening's scaring, the good folk of Dalby treated us to a bit of a do...

Thanks guys

Seasonal Photos...

2005-12-27T11:43:00.000Z

Don't go down to the woods tonight, it's bad for your 'elf

Resting after a hard day's witching

If you can't get a hat, get a head

Death stalks Dalby Forest

The bride of dracula tries to escape her inevitable fate (The clue's in her name...)

Get me to the crypt on time...

Just a bite to put me on...

Pantomime a triumph!

2005-12-27T11:38:00.000Z

The pre-christmas show of Robyn Hood was a triumph, with an audience of over 50 people - the largest ever for the Valley Theatre. The audience got into the swing of things with boos and cheers galore - except for the Mexican wave (Thanks Fred).
Thrills in the evening were provided by various members of the cast forgetting their lines, or jumping about seemingly at random and then seeing whether the rest of the cast could bail them out.

See you in the new year (I hope).

Live at last

2005-12-19T13:13:00.000Z

Unfortunately we had to cancel the first performance of the Valley Theatre Pantomime: Robyn Hood, due to a family bereavement. We finally got under way with our panto season last Thursday, though. A good sized audience saw everything finally (thankfully) come together as the cast moved things along at a cracking pace. In fact the pace was so fast at some points that whole sections were skipped, causing a wailing and a gnashing of teeth from the author! They must have been in a hurry to get to the pub! Anyway next week's performance is just about sold out so your best bet if you haven't booked already is to go for one of the two January performances.

Elsewhere (time never stands still at the Valley) the cast started rehearsals for a new play from the pen (or should that be keyboard?) of Graham Rhodes - Dancing on a Table in Montmartre - modestly described by the author as the best thing he's ever done. You be the judge...

Fame in perpetuity!

2005-12-02T12:19:00.000Z

The Shakespeare Institute Library has asked for - and received - a copy of "A Midsummer Day's Nightmare" so now Graham's immortal words shall be stored alongside the bard's!

Here's an extract from the acknowledgement e-mail:

Subject: Shakespeare Institute library / Midsummer's Day Nightmare

Dear Graham,

Thank you very much indeed for sending a copy of Midsummer Day's Nightmare to us at the Shakespeare Institute. We very much appreciate it, and it is exactly the type of script we are trying to collect.

[...]

Thanks again

in haste, Clare Smout

New Calendar feature added

2005-11-29T13:25:00.000Z

I have added a calendar to the Valley Theatre website so you can now all organize your diaries around our performances.

Chris Parrinder bio added to website

2005-11-28T21:55:00.000Z

Chris Parrinder's bio has been added to our website. You can view it here.

More from the last performance

2005-11-18T12:56:00.000Z

One more photo that mysteriously wouldn't upload to the blog:

John Fairchild as a seeker of sanctuary

Backstage at the latest performance

2005-11-11T12:20:00.000Z

The latest performance at the Valley Theatre last night went down very well with the audience. Biggest laughs of the night were for "Holiday", a Graham Rhodes standard which is always wheeled out in times of trouble - sterling work from Chris Fairchild who was very convincing, even with script in hand. I particularly liked Karen and Poppy in "Street Corner Girls" - they have a really good rapport which comes across in the performance. I was also very impressed with Debbie's performance in "Bombs Away Dream Babies". The play showed very effectively that sex wasn't invented in the 60s!

I managed to get a few snaps backstage before the show:

Poppy Sherwood getting read for her role as a Street Corner Girl

I didn't ask, they didn't tell!

Chris P as the very image of a WW2 bomber pilot

You'll have to turn up to the performance to see what Karen's wearing under her sweatshirt!

Debbie as the bomber pilot's wife who's not content just to sit at home keeping the home fires burning

Its show time

2005-11-10T12:27:00.000Z

Just a quick reminder that the latest show at the Valley is tonight. I'll be going along with my camera to dish that backstage dirt!

Photos from Halloween

2005-11-08T22:44:00.000Z

Had a very enjoyable and successful halloween at Dalby Forest. Over 300 people came to see us on the ghost walk, and the beer and BBQ put on by the foresters afterwards was much appreciated (especially by me as for the first time I wasn't driving and could have a few beers!). Here are some pictures from the day:

Poppy as a bride of Dracula (best heckle from the crowd: "Get a room"! Best thing that Dracula wished he'd said: "You mean, get a tomb!")

Margaret Johnson as a witch

Margaret as a severed head

Steve Green as death

Tony as a very scary cannibalistic imp

Chris Parrinder as a werewolf (werewolf? No! There wolf!)

Rosalind and Florence as some more witches

Margaret Johnson with her hair blowing in the wind

Karen as yet another witch

Fright night in Dalby

2005-11-01T12:09:00.000Z

We had a very successful night in Dalby with well over 300 people coming to see our slightly silly scariness. I took quite a few pictures which I will be posting in the next few days. For those of you who couldn't make it (and there must be quite a few, since the event was sold out well over a week previously), the next show at the Valley is on Thursday 10th November. See you there

Valley Theatre to lurk in the woods

2005-10-27T12:34:00.000+01:00

The Valley Theatre is lending its inimitable style to the Halloween Ghost Walk in Dalby Forest on Monday 31st October (of course). If you want to go and haven't already booked then I'm afraid you're out of luck as its already sold out, but if I remember my camera (for once) I'll post some pictures...

Review of our latest program

2005-10-19T13:28:00.000+01:00

Mike Park gives a very favorable review of our latest program here

Rehearsals start for Panto

2005-10-19T13:19:00.000+01:00

The Valley Theatre has started rehearsals for this year's Christmas Panto. It's called Robyn Hood and it is sure to include lots of awful jokes, a silly accent from Steve and thigh-length patent leather boots! I'll keep you updated on how we are progressing

Valley Theatre on the Road

2005-10-03T13:21:00.000+01:00

The Valley Theatre went on the road on Saturday to perform at the Ilkley Literature Festival. They performed two pieces: The award-winning Chasing the Hard-Backed Beetle and Holiday. Ilkley playhouse was a step up from what we're used to but very enjoyable for all that. Proper dressing rooms and CCTV so that the scene shifters (and driver) can see what's going on on-stage. What luxury!

Last night of the run

2005-09-30T13:27:00.000+01:00

Thursday was the last night of the current run and was a sell out! We were turning bookings away for days before the event so make sure you book early if you want to see the next run, starting on 13th October. The press preview is on Sunday - I'll try to get some photos for the website.

Valley Theatre in the News

2005-09-26T09:38:00.000+01:00

Here is a review of our latest programme (last performance on Thursday 29th) in the Scarborough Evening News.

Valley Theatre at Ilkley Literature Festival

2005-09-26T09:32:00.000+01:00

The Scarborough Company moves further afield on Saturday night when they perform two of their plays at the Ilkley Playhouse as a part of the prestigious Ilkley Literature Festival. The company are performing Graham Rhodes play, "Chasing the Hard Backed, Black Beetle", that not only won the best play at this years Saltburn Drama Festival but also won its actors Chris Parrinder and Tony Berry best actor and best supporting actor awards. The same actors will also be performing another of Graham's dark comedies, "Holiday."

Graham Rhodes Art Exhibition

2005-09-26T09:10:00.000+01:00

For the next month there is a chance to see the another aspect of the work created by Scarborough playwright, and Beached festival host Graham Rhodes when the Stephen Joseph Theatre presents an exhibition of his landscape paintings featuring local North Yorkshire scenes.

Latest Show Tonight

2005-09-15T13:34:00.000+01:00

Just a quick reminder that our latest show is tonight. I saw the last show and was particularly impressed with Karen Tite's performance as the Elvis fan - a real tour de force! If you miss it tonight you've only got one more chance!

Photos from the performance in the Forest

2005-09-14T12:22:00.000+01:00

Here are some photos from the day of our performance of A Midsummer's Day Nightmare in the Dalby Forest:

The Speywife of Goathland (Margaret Johnson), The husband (Chris Parrinder) and the Forestry Commision Worker (Steve Green) waiting miserably for the rain to stop

The Speywife of Goathland with a bag on her head

The wife (Karen Tite) sheltering from the rain

A fairy (Poppy Sherwood) titivates herself

The audience's view of the procedings

The company's view of the audience

Valley Theatre in the news

2005-09-05T13:24:00.000+01:00

Our latest show features in the Scarborough Evening News

Our latest programme

2005-08-12T13:31:00.000+01:00

Here is our latest programme:

Thursdays August 18th & Sept 1st, 15th & 29th

Performance starting 8.00pm

Back to drama nights…

Three new dramatic plays by Graham Rhodes

The Window

A man with a secret comes to rent an attic room

Starring Chris Parrinder, Margaret Johnson & Tony Berry

Trapped

A different slant on domestic violence –
recently seen at West Yorkshire Playhouse

starring Deborah Fensom

Ticket to Graceland

The trials and tribulations of being an Elvis fan!

Starring Karen Tite

All this for just £3.00 entrance

Advance Box office 01723 367251-Arts Centre 01723 341466

Bring your own bottles & glasses!

Valley Theatre in the News

2005-08-10T10:43:00.000+01:00

Here we are in the scarborough evening news. At least they put us ahead of Jim Davidson!

Rehearsal in the Forest

2005-07-29T20:29:00.000+01:00

We rehearsed for "A Midsummer's Day Nightmare" in Dalby on the Friday before the show in the forest. Here are some of the photos:

Chris and Karen as the "romantic" couple

Chris F practising his archery skills.

Poppy and the Man from the Forestry

Margaret as the Speywife of Goathland

What have I got in my pocket?

Valley Theatre to Play Dalby Forest

2005-07-28T12:31:00.000+01:00

The Valley Theatre company is to present "A Midsummer Days Nightmare" in Dalby forest on the 30th July. Details can be found here

Valley Theatre up and running again

2005-04-16T00:23:00.000+01:00

The Valley Theatre has found a new home at the St James Community Art Centre in Scarborough. For directions to the venue look on Google here. We are continuing with our custom of a rolling program of plays, every 2 weeks on a Thursday evening. The latest programme can be seen here.

Valley Theatre to Close Shock!

2005-02-05T15:54:00.000Z

The Valley Theatre is being forced to close! Read the full story here.
We will be back!

In the news.. later than hoped

2005-01-09T21:00:00.000Z

We were interviewed and recorded doing a couple of sketches on the 6th January as planned. The feature will go out on Look North on the 19th or the 20th January, before our last performance of the pantomime, on 20th January. So you have just one more chance to see Pirates of the Esplanade!

The Valley Theatre in the news!

2004-12-28T21:36:00.000Z

The Valley Theatre is going to be on television, on Look North on Thursday the 6th Jan 2005, which coincidentally is the same day as the next performance of Pirates of the Esplanade. The last performance was sold out so make sure you book early if you want to come along.

Review of the Pantomime: Pirates of the Esplanade

2004-12-19T21:24:00.000Z

Here is a review of our latest mega-production, Pirates of the Esplanade: Curse of the Black Pudding from the Scarbrough Evening News. Please come and support the play - profits are well down since we had to throw away a huge pile of black puddings that were past their sell-by date!

Us in the Evening News

2004-11-12T17:36:00.000Z

Here is a review of the latest show in the Scarborough Evening News

Performance Schedule

2004-11-11T21:52:00.000Z

Friday 26th November at Staintondale Village Hall

First half

Ramswriggler 1 - Chris F

Holiday - Chris & Tony

Last Visit - Margaret

Second half

Baron Von Fishbone - Chris F

Silly Mugger - Tony/Margaret/Paula/Steve

Ramswriggler 2 Chris F

Avril Knock - Poppy

Bargheest - Chris F/Tony/Steve/Chris P

Pantomime - Pirates of the Esplanade: Curse of the Black Pudding

All performances at the Valley.

Performance dates

Dec 9^th
Dec 16^th
Dec 23^rd
Jan 6^th
Jan 20th

The Valley Theatre

2004-10-13T22:14:00.000+01:00

This is the official blog for the Valley Theatre, Scarborough.

We are maybe the smallest theatre in the world! We are here